Radiant Heat Installation Option

Floor installation over radiant heatIf you don’t like walking on cold floors then a radiant heating system placed under your floor can keep the floor warm.  Moreover it will also help heat your entire room with a nice warm cozy feeling.  So even if you have to get up in the middle of the night you will still be walking on a nice warm floor.

If your floor is made of marble, tile, granite or stone then you know the inconvenience of walking on it in bare feet.  Even hardwood flooring is quite cold most of the time unless you keep the heat turned up substantially in the room.  A radiant heat system will keep these floors warm and also increase the comfort level the room.

Benefits of a Radiant Heat system

  • Invisible to the eye.
  • Does not interfere with the interior walls as there are no heater grills or ducts sticking out of the walls.
  • Uniform heat across almost all surfaces.
  • Almost completely silent.  No whistling from the forced air system and no fan noise associated with the wall heaters.

Floor Coverings

Almost any floor covering can be applied over a radiant heating system.

Engineered Hardwood Flooring

Engineered hardwood flooring is usually thinner and more conductive of heat than a traditional Solid Hardwood Floor.  An edge glued floating flooring system is often recommended over a radiant heating system because it allows the boards to expand and contract as a whole, thus, reducing wear on the boards.

Solid Hardwood Flooring

Not all species are a good candidate for installation over a radiant heating system.  With the heat coming from the floor, it causes the boards to expand and contract more often than with a standard wall heater or forced air system.  Absorbing and holding moisture is a characteristic of wood and some species simply will not tolerate the diverse moisture levels.

Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is thin and conducts heat well and is usually well suited to a radiant heating system.  However, careful consideration must be given to the installation.  It must be ensured that the concrete and sub floor is dry so heat and moisture changes are minimized to avoid warps and cracks.

Ceramic and Stone Tile Flooring

Ceramic and Stone Tile is quite thin and conducts and retains heat well.  These features make them an excellent choice for a radiant heat installation.  Especially in the bathroom where a warm floor makes taking that morning shower much more enjoyable.

Final Thoughts

With any radiant heating system you will want to speak with your flooring expert and radiant heat specialist so they can assist you in making the proper decision regarding the radiant heat system and the flooring material that you will put over it.  This gives you the best odds that you will enjoy your floor for years to come.